They Did Not Even Have the Chance to Eat

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – April 26, 2020

Series Title: “Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus”

Today’s Title: “They Did Not Even Have the Chance to Eat”

Today’s Text: Mark 6:30-44

Gospel Parallels:  Matthew 14:13-21, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:5-13

 

Where is God when the needs before me and my need to rest are on a collision course?

CONTEXT:

- The disciples had just returned from going out two by two to share the gospel from town to town

            - Jesus had just received word of the tragic and unjust death of John the Baptist

            - The disciples needed to debrief and to rest

            - Jesus needed to grieve

FINDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN MY NEEDS & THE NEEDS OF OTHERS

 

WE NEED TO DEBRIEF FROM OUR WORK (v30)

- After a long “campaign”, training event, seminar – you need to “debrief”, to have a transition

                        - “How was your day?” is a powerful and important question….

 

THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WILL NEVER STOP (v31)

                        - it’s very important to accept this as reality

                                    - feeding people requires a lot of work

                                    - caring for the sick requires a lot of work

                                    - education, (not just children) requires a lot of work

                                    - listening to people’s struggles requires a lot of work

                                    - basic shelter requires a lot of work

                                    - clothing people requires a lot of work

                        - a good responsible parent is aware that these every day realities do not stop

WE NEED QUIET REST (v31)

                        - Sabbath

                        - Retreats

                        - rest for the heart, mind, soul, & body

 

WHEN YOU CARE FOR OTHERS, THEIR NEEDS WILL FOLLOW YOU (v32-33)

                        - think about the effort of the developing crowd

                        - think about the disciples seeing this from the boat

                       

COMPASSION IS STRONGER THAN FATIGUE (v34)

           - THIS HAS TO BE TRUE FOR US TO SURVIVE! (parenting)

- Jesus didn’t see the crowd as an obstacle, an annoyance, or a problem

           - He saw their need of direction

                        - How did the disciples feel about Jesus “teaching them many things”?

 

WHEN THE NEEDS ARE BIGGER THAN YOU AND BIGGER THAN “US”…. (v35-38)

                        - The 12 have a legitimate concern that can also serve as an appropriate exit

                        - The crowd did not ask to be fed, nor expected it

                        - Jesus was testing the faith of the 12 (“You give them something to eat”)

                        - “How many loaves do you have?” GO AND SEE

 

…..GOD MULTIPLIES THE LITTLE WE OFFER TO MEET NEEDS BEYOND WHAT WE IMAGINE! (v39-44)

            - Imagine the disciples working thru the crowd and having them sit in groups

            - 5000? 10000? 20000?

            - What did they tell the crowd? Did they expect food?

Where is God when the needs before me and my need to rest are on a collision course?

He is ready to use what you have and will work with you, finding rest along the way.

Matthew 11:28-30